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Paying your rent in 2024 - it’s a 53-week year

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Paying your rent in 2024 - it’s a 53-week year

As 2024 is a leap year there are 53 weeks (or 53 Mondays) in this financial year instead of the usual 52. This has implications for your rent and Universal Credit payments.

It means your rent will be charged 53 times over the year, but your Universal Credit (UC) payments only cover 52 weeks.

This is because the amount of UC you receive is calculated by multiplying your monthly rent by 52 and dividing by 12. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not change the way it calculates UC payments on a 53-week year, so you will continue to receive your UC payments for the usual 52 weeks.

It means that your monthly payments will not cover the monthly rent in 2024.  

It is important that you are aware of the extra week, and that you plan ahead and budget so that you don’t fall into rent arrears.

To make sure you have enough money to cover your rent over 53 weeks this year, it’s a good idea to work out the shortfall so you know how much you will need to put away. We’ve provided an example below to help you work this out. Simply change the £100 weekly rent in the example to whatever your weekly rent is and then follow the calculation.

If your weekly rent is £100:

  • Usual 52-week year: weekly rent £100 × 52 ÷ 12 = £433.34
  • This year 53-week year weekly rent £100 × 53 ÷ 12 = £441.67

The DWP will continue to pay you £433.34 a month in UC but your monthly rent this year is £441.67 – leaving a shortfall of £8.33 a month. You will need to pay this shortfall to stop your rent account falling into arrears.

Remember, we no longer have rent free weeks so you must pay your rent every week of the year. 

What if I pay monthly by direct debit?

If you pay by Direct Debit you don’t need to do anything, we do this calculation for you and automatically adjust your payments. If you pay by any other method, you will need to adjust your payments. 

What if I claim housing benefit?

If you get housing benefit you don’t need to do anything as this will be covered. 

Getting help

If you are struggling to pay your rent, please don’t bury your head in the sand. Contact our friendly Customer Payment & Debt Team on 023 8083 3388 and select option three. The telephone line is open 8.30am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.

It’s also worth checking the online benefits calculator to see if you’re entitled to any extra benefit payments.

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